How Much Does a Locksmith Cost in the UK? (2026 City-by-City Guide)

The cost of hiring a locksmith in the UK varies considerably depending on your location. Locksmiths in the UK should hold None legally required; MLA (Master Locksmith Association) membership recommended certification (verified at Master Locksmith Association). This guide lists 2026 locksmith prices for all 200 UK cities in our database — click any city for a full local pricing guide.

Regional price tip: London locksmith costs typically run 40–50% above the national average. Cities in the North East and Northern Ireland are often 15–25% below average. Use the region jump-links below to find your area quickly.

📄 Locksmith — National Price Overview (2026)

UK Range (typical jobs): £50 – £500
Typical Duration: 30 min–3 hours
Certification Required: None legally required; MLA (Master Locksmith Association) membership recommended
Cities Covered: 200 UK cities

The UK national average is used as the baseline. London typically costs 40–50% above the national average; Northern Ireland and parts of the North East are 15–25% below. Prices within each region can also vary by suburb and whether your job requires emergency call-out rates.

Greater London

City / Town	Typical Hourly Rate (2026)
London	£100 – £160 per hour	Full guide →

South East England

City / Town	Typical Hourly Rate (2026)
Aldershot	£75 – £115 per hour	Full guide →
Aylesbury	£80 – £125 per hour	Full guide →
Basingstoke	£75 – £120 per hour	Full guide →
Bognor Regis	£70 – £110 per hour	Full guide →
Brighton	£85 – £130 per hour	Full guide →
Canterbury	£75 – £120 per hour	Full guide →
Chichester	£75 – £120 per hour	Full guide →
Crawley	£80 – £125 per hour	Full guide →
Dover	£70 – £110 per hour	Full guide →
Eastbourne	£75 – £115 per hour	Full guide →
Epsom	£85 – £130 per hour	Full guide →
Farnham	£80 – £125 per hour	Full guide →
Folkestone	£70 – £110 per hour	Full guide →
Guildford	£85 – £130 per hour	Full guide →
Hastings	£70 – £110 per hour	Full guide →
High Wycombe	£80 – £125 per hour	Full guide →
Horsham	£80 – £125 per hour	Full guide →
Lewes	£75 – £120 per hour	Full guide →
Maidstone	£75 – £120 per hour	Full guide →
Margate	£65 – £105 per hour	Full guide →
Medway	£75 – £115 per hour	Full guide →
Milton Keynes	£75 – £115 per hour	Full guide →
Oxford	£85 – £130 per hour	Full guide →
Portsmouth	£75 – £115 per hour	Full guide →
Ramsgate	£65 – £105 per hour	Full guide →
Reading	£80 – £125 per hour	Full guide →
Redhill	£80 – £125 per hour	Full guide →
Reigate	£80 – £125 per hour	Full guide →
Royal Tunbridge Wells	£80 – £125 per hour	Full guide →
Slough	£85 – £130 per hour	Full guide →
Southampton	£75 – £120 per hour	Full guide →
Tonbridge	£75 – £120 per hour	Full guide →
Winchester	£80 – £125 per hour	Full guide →
Windsor	£85 – £135 per hour	Full guide →
Woking	£85 – £130 per hour	Full guide →
Worthing	£75 – £115 per hour	Full guide →

South West England

City / Town	Typical Hourly Rate (2026)
Bath	£85 – £130 per hour	Full guide →
Bournemouth	£75 – £115 per hour	Full guide →
Bristol	£80 – £125 per hour	Full guide →
Cheltenham	£75 – £115 per hour	Full guide →
Cirencester	£70 – £110 per hour	Full guide →
Dorchester	£65 – £105 per hour	Full guide →
Exeter	£70 – £110 per hour	Full guide →
Gloucester	£65 – £105 per hour	Full guide →
Paignton	£65 – £100 per hour	Full guide →
Plymouth	£65 – £100 per hour	Full guide →
Poole	£75 – £115 per hour	Full guide →
Salisbury	£75 – £120 per hour	Full guide →
Stroud	£65 – £105 per hour	Full guide →
Swindon	£70 – £110 per hour	Full guide →
Taunton	£65 – £100 per hour	Full guide →
Torquay	£65 – £100 per hour	Full guide →
Truro	£65 – £100 per hour	Full guide →
Weston-super-Mare	£65 – £100 per hour	Full guide →
Weymouth	£65 – £100 per hour	Full guide →
Yeovil	£65 – £100 per hour	Full guide →

East of England

City / Town	Typical Hourly Rate (2026)
Basildon	£75 – £115 per hour	Full guide →
Bedford	£70 – £110 per hour	Full guide →
Bury St Edmunds	£70 – £110 per hour	Full guide →
Cambridge	£85 – £135 per hour	Full guide →
Chelmsford	£75 – £120 per hour	Full guide →
Colchester	£70 – £110 per hour	Full guide →
Ely	£75 – £115 per hour	Full guide →
Great Yarmouth	£60 – £95 per hour	Full guide →
Harlow	£75 – £120 per hour	Full guide →
Hemel Hempstead	£80 – £125 per hour	Full guide →
Huntingdon	£70 – £110 per hour	Full guide →
Ipswich	£65 – £105 per hour	Full guide →
King's Lynn	£65 – £100 per hour	Full guide →
Lowestoft	£60 – £95 per hour	Full guide →
Luton	£75 – £120 per hour	Full guide →
Norwich	£65 – £105 per hour	Full guide →
Peterborough	£65 – £105 per hour	Full guide →
Southend-on-Sea	£75 – £115 per hour	Full guide →
St Albans	£85 – £130 per hour	Full guide →
Stevenage	£75 – £120 per hour	Full guide →
Watford	£80 – £125 per hour	Full guide →

East Midlands

City / Town	Typical Hourly Rate (2026)
Buxton	£60 – £95 per hour	Full guide →
Chesterfield	£60 – £95 per hour	Full guide →
Corby	£60 – £95 per hour	Full guide →
Derby	£65 – £100 per hour	Full guide →
Grantham	£60 – £95 per hour	Full guide →
Kettering	£65 – £100 per hour	Full guide →
Leicester	£65 – £100 per hour	Full guide →
Lincoln	£60 – £95 per hour	Full guide →
Loughborough	£65 – £100 per hour	Full guide →
Mansfield	£60 – £95 per hour	Full guide →
Northampton	£65 – £105 per hour	Full guide →
Nottingham	£65 – £100 per hour	Full guide →

West Midlands

City / Town	Typical Hourly Rate (2026)
Birmingham	£65 – £100 per hour	Full guide →
Burton upon Trent	£60 – £95 per hour	Full guide →
Coventry	£65 – £100 per hour	Full guide →
Dudley	£60 – £95 per hour	Full guide →
Hereford	£65 – £100 per hour	Full guide →
Kidderminster	£60 – £95 per hour	Full guide →
Lichfield	£65 – £100 per hour	Full guide →
Nuneaton	£60 – £95 per hour	Full guide →
Redditch	£60 – £95 per hour	Full guide →
Royal Leamington Spa	£65 – £105 per hour	Full guide →
Rugby	£65 – £100 per hour	Full guide →
Shrewsbury	£65 – £100 per hour	Full guide →
Solihull	£65 – £105 per hour	Full guide →
Stafford	£60 – £95 per hour	Full guide →
Stoke-on-Trent	£60 – £95 per hour	Full guide →
Stratford-upon-Avon	£70 – £110 per hour	Full guide →
Tamworth	£60 – £95 per hour	Full guide →
Telford	£60 – £95 per hour	Full guide →
Walsall	£60 – £95 per hour	Full guide →
Wolverhampton	£60 – £95 per hour	Full guide →
Worcester	£65 – £100 per hour	Full guide →

Yorkshire and the Humber

City / Town	Typical Hourly Rate (2026)
Barnsley	£60 – £95 per hour	Full guide →
Beverley	£65 – £100 per hour	Full guide →
Bradford	£60 – £95 per hour	Full guide →
Dewsbury	£60 – £95 per hour	Full guide →
Doncaster	£60 – £95 per hour	Full guide →
Grimsby	£55 – £90 per hour	Full guide →
Harrogate	£70 – £110 per hour	Full guide →
Huddersfield	£60 – £95 per hour	Full guide →
Hull	£60 – £95 per hour	Full guide →
Keighley	£60 – £90 per hour	Full guide →
Leeds	£65 – £100 per hour	Full guide →
Rotherham	£60 – £95 per hour	Full guide →
Scarborough	£60 – £95 per hour	Full guide →
Scunthorpe	£55 – £90 per hour	Full guide →
Sheffield	£65 – £100 per hour	Full guide →
Wakefield	£60 – £95 per hour	Full guide →
York	£65 – £105 per hour	Full guide →

North West England

City / Town	Typical Hourly Rate (2026)
Altrincham	£70 – £110 per hour	Full guide →
Birkenhead	£60 – £95 per hour	Full guide →
Blackburn	£60 – £95 per hour	Full guide →
Blackpool	£60 – £95 per hour	Full guide →
Bolton	£60 – £95 per hour	Full guide →
Burnley	£60 – £90 per hour	Full guide →
Carlisle	£60 – £95 per hour	Full guide →
Chester	£65 – £105 per hour	Full guide →
Crewe	£60 – £95 per hour	Full guide →
Lancaster	£65 – £100 per hour	Full guide →
Liverpool	£65 – £100 per hour	Full guide →
Macclesfield	£65 – £100 per hour	Full guide →
Manchester	£65 – £105 per hour	Full guide →
Oldham	£60 – £95 per hour	Full guide →
Preston	£60 – £95 per hour	Full guide →
Rochdale	£60 – £95 per hour	Full guide →
Runcorn	£60 – £95 per hour	Full guide →
Salford	£65 – £100 per hour	Full guide →
Southport	£65 – £100 per hour	Full guide →
St Helens	£60 – £95 per hour	Full guide →
Stockport	£65 – £100 per hour	Full guide →
Warrington	£65 – £100 per hour	Full guide →
Wigan	£60 – £95 per hour	Full guide →

North East England

City / Town	Typical Hourly Rate (2026)
Bishop Auckland	£55 – £90 per hour	Full guide →
Darlington	£60 – £95 per hour	Full guide →
Durham	£60 – £95 per hour	Full guide →
Gateshead	£60 – £95 per hour	Full guide →
Hartlepool	£60 – £90 per hour	Full guide →
Middlesbrough	£60 – £95 per hour	Full guide →
Newcastle upon Tyne	£65 – £100 per hour	Full guide →
South Shields	£60 – £95 per hour	Full guide →
Stockton-on-Tees	£60 – £95 per hour	Full guide →
Sunderland	£60 – £95 per hour	Full guide →

Scotland

City / Town	Typical Hourly Rate (2026)
Aberdeen	£70 – £110 per hour	Full guide →
Ayr	£60 – £95 per hour	Full guide →
Coatbridge	£60 – £95 per hour	Full guide →
Dundee	£65 – £100 per hour	Full guide →
Dunfermline	£65 – £100 per hour	Full guide →
East Kilbride	£65 – £100 per hour	Full guide →
Edinburgh	£75 – £115 per hour	Full guide →
Falkirk	£60 – £95 per hour	Full guide →
Glasgow	£65 – £105 per hour	Full guide →
Greenock	£60 – £95 per hour	Full guide →
Hamilton	£60 – £95 per hour	Full guide →
Inverness	£65 – £100 per hour	Full guide →
Kilmarnock	£60 – £95 per hour	Full guide →
Kirkcaldy	£60 – £95 per hour	Full guide →
Livingston	£65 – £100 per hour	Full guide →
Motherwell	£60 – £95 per hour	Full guide →
Paisley	£65 – £100 per hour	Full guide →
Perth	£65 – £100 per hour	Full guide →
St Andrews	£70 – £110 per hour	Full guide →
Stirling	£65 – £105 per hour	Full guide →

Wales

City / Town	Typical Hourly Rate (2026)
Barry	£60 – £95 per hour	Full guide →
Bridgend	£60 – £95 per hour	Full guide →
Caerphilly	£60 – £95 per hour	Full guide →
Cardiff	£65 – £100 per hour	Full guide →
Llanelli	£55 – £90 per hour	Full guide →
Merthyr Tydfil	£55 – £90 per hour	Full guide →
Newport	£60 – £95 per hour	Full guide →
Penarth	£65 – £100 per hour	Full guide →
Pontypridd	£60 – £95 per hour	Full guide →
Swansea	£60 – £95 per hour	Full guide →
Wrexham	£60 – £95 per hour	Full guide →

Northern Ireland

City / Town	Typical Hourly Rate (2026)
Armagh	£55 – £85 per hour	Full guide →
Bangor	£55 – £90 per hour	Full guide →
Belfast	£60 – £95 per hour	Full guide →
Derry	£55 – £90 per hour	Full guide →
Enniskillen	£50 – £80 per hour	Full guide →
Lisburn	£60 – £95 per hour	Full guide →
Newry	£55 – £90 per hour	Full guide →
Newtownabbey	£55 – £90 per hour	Full guide →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a locksmith cost in the UK?

UK locksmith costs vary significantly by location. Typical job prices run £50 – £500. London tends to run 40–50% above the national average; cities in the North East and Northern Ireland are often 15–25% below. Click any city in the table above for a full local pricing breakdown.

What is the average hourly rate for a locksmith in the UK?

Hourly rates for locksmiths depend on your location and the time of call-out. Standard daytime rates (Mon–Fri 8am–6pm) are the lowest; evening, weekend and emergency call-outs typically attract a 30–60% surcharge. Most locksmiths also charge a minimum call-out fee equivalent to 30–60 minutes of work.

Do I need a certified locksmith?

Yes — Locksmith work legally requires None legally required; MLA (Master Locksmith Association) membership recommended certification in the UK. Verify credentials at Master Locksmith Association before hiring.

How many quotes should I get for locksmith work?

Always obtain at least three written, itemised quotes before committing to any locksmith job. This lets you compare on price, qualifications and professionalism rather than defaulting to the lowest figure, which may indicate corner-cutting.

What should a locksmith quote include?

A proper locksmith quote should state: the full scope of work, itemised labour and materials, whether VAT is included, expected start and completion dates, call-out or minimum visit fees, and any workmanship guarantee offered.

Are locksmith prices higher in London?

Yes — London locksmith rates are typically 40–50% above the UK national average, driven by higher demand, travel costs and cost of living. The South East also runs 10–20% above average. Use the regional tables above to find your city's rates.

How can I check if a locksmith is properly qualified?

Use the official Master Locksmith Association checker to verify registration in seconds. Ask the tradesperson to produce qualification certificates, public liability insurance documents, and any relevant accreditation before work begins. A trustworthy professional will have these documents readily available.

Should I pay a deposit to a locksmith?

A deposit of 10–20% is normal practice for larger locksmith jobs. Never pay more than 25% upfront, and always pay by card or bank transfer rather than cash so you have a clear payment record. Avoid any tradesperson who demands full payment before starting.

What are the red flags when hiring a locksmith?

Warning signs include: demands for a large cash deposit before any work starts, inability to produce insurance or qualification proof, refusal to provide a written quote, significantly undercutting all other estimates, and pressuring you to decide immediately. A reputable locksmith will never rush you.

How do I find a reliable locksmith near me?

Use vetted platforms such as Checkatrade, Rated People or TrustMark to find reviewed locksmiths in your area. Personal recommendations from neighbours or friends remain the most reliable method. Always verify public liability insurance of at least £1 million before agreeing to any work.

Price disclaimer: Prices above are 2026 estimates based on regional trade cost-index data. Actual quotes will vary by contractor experience, job complexity, materials, and market conditions. Always request at least three written quotes before committing to any work. ServicePriceHub.uk is an independent price reference guide and is not affiliated with any tradesperson or trade body.

Ready to Hire a Locksmith?

Get free, no-obligation quotes from vetted locksmiths across the UK. Compare at least three estimates before committing.

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